However, it was killed by gamekeeper Stuart Howe last Monday after it wandered into a rape seed oil field.

The 65-year-old deer manager claimed he shot the bird because police were concerned it would wander into the road and cause a car crash.

According to the Telegraph, Mr Howe said the animal didn’t suffer as it was killed instantly with a single shot to the head.

However, he claimed the bird’s meat would be used to make gourmet sausages.

He said: ‘I suppose some people might say it is a shame the rhea is dead but it would be terrible if it caused someone to die in a car crash. I saw the rhea near the roadside at one point and it would easily have caused a car to swerve and hit a tree.’

Insp Paul David of Hertfordshire police told the Telegraph: ‘I am amazed it survived this long to be honest. It would have been a real problem if it had wandered into the road and posed a traffic hazard. We will have to notify the owner that the bird has been killed.’